I need some help, advise, this is serious

[Rob]

My Jude2 family,

I was informed today at school where my girls attend, that they are going to have a basketball league, where the elementary schools will go and play against the other elementary schools in the county. I think that is a great idea, it will help build school spirit, plus teach skills that will be needed for middle and high school.

However, here is my problem, they are only going to be doing it for the boys and not the girls? Is that legal? Does Title IX apply to this? I don't want to create any problems, but fair is fair, right? Or am I being an over zealous dad that is jealous that he doesn't have boys?

I need some help.

Thanks,

Pastor Rob

[Shellie]

I am with you on this. If they are going to have one team, they should have both. Period.

[rjjunior]

My assumption is that a few individuals petitioned for this and set the process in motion to bring this about. If there are other parents like yourself interested in a girls' league, pursue it through proper channels, rather than simply crying foul (no pun intended). Seek out the feasibility of such a league and then you'll find out if the district is playing favorites.

$.02 worth

[Rob]

rjj - Understand that the school is doing this, not a few individuals. As a matter of fact, it is a PE teacher that is starting this league between the other elementary schools.

When word came to me that they were going to start a league, this was at the end of the last school year, I stepped up to the plate and told them I would do whatever necessary to assist. Today I was informed that nothing was going to be done for the girls, only the boys.

I was also informed that the school was not invovled, the school was simply allowing them to "use" their facilities. As a tax payer that means my taxes, as well as those in this county will be used to pay the electric bill, and janitor's as well. That makes the school involved does it not?

My girls cannot fight this issue, and I'm not sure if it's something I really need to be concerned with but I know my girls want to play basketball so I guess that's why I'm so passionate about it.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, please

[Rob]

double post, sorry

[Paully_44]

I was informed today at school where my girls attend, that they are going to have a basketball league, where the elementary schools will go and play against the other elementary schools in the county. I think that is a great idea, it will help build school spirit, plus teach skills that will be needed for middle and high school.
Pastor Rob

Does the elementary school have other organized sports where it competes against other elementary schools?

Does the Title X apply to Elementary level? i would think/hope so, just curious.

[Rob]

Paully,

Yes they do in football. I don't know if Title IX applies to Elementary schools or not. I'm checking into the answer of that question.

Pastor Rob

[Mountie12]

Rob,

I've had some experience with Title IX when my daughter Courtney was playing HS ball. I sat across the table from local and county school administrators who were feeding me a line of bull about how they didn't have funds available and as soon as I pulled out my file on Title IX regulations they started spittin and sputterin and back-peddlin.

No school administrators wants to tangle with a Title IX lawsuit because it shuts down their spending abilitiies until it is cleared up.

Google - Title IX and you will find all the info that you need in the way of requirments. Most of it deals with equal opportunities and equal spending for women's athletics. The schools have to provide comparable opportunities for female athletes. However, a lot of the guidlines can get muddled in legalities.

Here are some things you need to consider:

Is it worth the effort and how willing are you to accept the challenge?
Courtney started on the HS softball team when she was in the 7th grade. I spent most of those six years constantly pushing and prodding and threatening just to get new uniforms, equipment, facilities, etc. It's a long, arduous battle.

You can't just use Title IX as a way to blow smoke. You have to be willing to use it if necessary.

Are you willing to make people mad?
Once you start sounding off about equal opporutnity you usually get the school administration, well as, the parents of male athletes mad at you. More money for female programs may mean less money for male programs.

If the school is allowing the use of their facility for the league, then they have to allow it for a girls league. If the league is using the school's name, materials, equipment, etc, then the same thing has to be done for the girls. If no officials from the school are interested in heading up a girls league, then volunteer to do it yourself. You pastors only work 2 days a week so I know you've got some spare time.

Seriously, if you can get enough parents to support you then you probably can get something accomplished.

[dolfan]

I think Mountie12 hits the nail on the head, practically speaking.

A couple of strategies, take 'em or leave 'em --- Interview the coach or other person in charge of the school's sports. Record the interview surreptitiously. Ask them why no similar program is being made available for girls' athletics. Listen for keywords or phrases such as "lack of interest", "lack of ability", "lack of money", or other pretexts for not doing the work to launch a program for girls. Compile a list of nearby schools or districts that offer the programs you'd like to have offered for your daughter, and ask the people in charge at those schools by whom and when they've spoken with someone from your school or district about launching girls' athletics. (My bet: zero, but you'd want to know that 'on the record.') Don't confront, just inquire and record.

It will be a longer haul if you can't convince them it is simply the right thing to do. So, if you're going to fight this fight, make sure you're going to finish it, and as Mountie12 said, it could get really ugly for you. My hat's off to you for taking it on, personally.

[Rob]

Okay, here's the lastest. First they are purposing that this is a Youth Basketball league, not affiliated with the county school system. They operate on their own and are allowed to use the schools facilities.

However, it is also stated that there would not be enough gym time to do a girls league. I have this stated in an email?

Now what are my options?

Pastor Rob

[dolfan]

My thought is that it gives it an appearance that the 'county' league is just a pretext for disconnecting from school so there is no need for a girls' league. The gym time comment certainly makes it look that way to me. Is the school charging this county league for the use of its facilities? Ask around, find out what other schools in your area, state, etc., charge for use by athletic leagues that aren't part of the school. Is your gym part of the school alone or is it also a municipal facility? For example, my old high school football field is adjacent to the campus but is owned by the city itself, and peewee football games are played there, unaffiliated with any school. But, the city owns it and doesn't charge a fee. The gym, on the other hand, is owned by the school board because it is part of the school. You don't get civic sports leagues playing in there (but I do know a guy who works there, and we've gone in there on Saturday mornings and played pick up ball a few times, but I digress).